Question Author
Morning all,
//But to me, one outpouring of intolerant scorn is pretty much the same as another.//
I don’t understand this comment from jno, nor why it is supported by missnemesis. In discussion on an open forum do they really expect the belief that the universe was created 6000 years ago to be tolerated without opposition? With the plethora of evidence freely available, no one need remain in ignorance, so it’s not surprising that such a ridiculous concept provokes scorn.
Words such as ‘vitriol’ and ‘intolerance’ smack of a victim mentality, and are often used here by apologists who have no argument to offer, but simply intend to engender unwarranted sympathy for the irrationality of religious dogma in an effort to stifle any reasoned debate. In other words, they’d rather the dissenters just shut up – and that is borne out by missnemesis’ statement //What I am surprised at is the complete intolerance of many AB members who feel the need to hijack threads ……there being little or no chance for those who are of a religious persuasion to be able to 'discuss' their beliefs properly.// There’s a simple answer to that, missnemesis, which would absolve you from accusations of committing the very offence you so freely accuse others of committing - intolerance. Discuss religion – and ignore the opposition.
Back to the question. I agree with Zacs and TheBuilder. This sort of preaching achieves precisely the opposite effect to that intended. All these people, including Keyplus, have with their continual proselytising, their penchant for moralising and insulting, their doom-laden prophesies of damnation, and their unwillingness to acknowledge indisputable reality, done their own particular religions – and their own credibility - far more damage than any rational atheist argument could ever hope to achieve.